Memorandum device



Feb. 27, 1934. T, FORTUNE 1,948,851

MEMORANDUM DEVI CE Filed Dec. 15, 1932 INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MEMORANDUM DEVICE Richard T.Fortune, Watsonville, Calif.

Application December. 15, 1932 Serial No. 647,453

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to a memorandum device, and moreparticularly to a device in which an alternately-folded strip of papercan be drawn out from a container whose outer surface forms 5 a platento write upon.

For the purpose of this specification my device in one embodimentthereof is illustrated as being attached to a stationary structure thatmay well be a kitchen wall, in which case the device would 1 be usefulto jot down items of groceries, or other supplies as their need suggestsitself.

In the above form of my invention said wall constitutes the back wall ofsaid container thereby cheapening the cost of production. Obviously,

by providing a back wall for said container the device may be used as aportable pad applicable for use on a desk, or to be carried in thepocket.

The objects of my invention comprise the following desiderata:

To provide a novel and useful article of this character, devoid ofcomplicated parts, and adapted for quantity-production from thin gaugematerial 'by die-stamping and forming, thereby reducing hand labor tothe minimum.

To provide a container in which re-fills of paper may be installed readyfor use without having to be threaded round other parts.

To provide an arrangement of the paper folds whereby the strip to bewritten on pays out fold by fold from the back of the pad toward thefront, which ensures its discharge in an orderly manner, the back of thepad being the point of least resistance while the strip is traversingout over the upper end of the bulk of the pad. Furthermore, saidtraverse of the strip tends to retain the several folds thereof in placeuntil drawn in sequence.

To provide a feed slot for said strip, the upper member of said slotbeing carried by the lower front edge of the container cover, and.curved outwardly. The lower member of said slot being the upper edge ofsaid platen, preferably curved inwardly to ease the strip when drawnoutwardly and to aid in holding the pad in place.

To provide certain guide members adapted to lead said strip truly downsaid platen and. hold it in place for writing upon. Said guides beingpreferably formed by suitably folding the material of said container, aswill later be described, together with other objects and advantageswhich may hereafter appear, be particularly pointed out in the claims,and illustrated in the drawing attached hereto and made part hereof, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of my device as attached to awall..

Figure 2 is a top plan View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 31s a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a cross section -through a portable embodiment of mycontainer. Similar reference indicia refer to similar parts throughoutthe several views.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the container C which may bestamped from thin gage metal or other suitable material andelectroplated or otherwise ornamented.

As represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 said container comprises thefront wall (11), which also forms the platen or writing table; therespective side walls (12) and (13) the cover (14), the bottom (15) andthe respective guides (16- 16). Said figures illustrate a form of mydevice adapted to be secured to a wall by means as the lugs (17-47).

In Figure 5, an embodiment of my invention adapted for portable use,said container is provided with the back wall (18) and said lugs areomitted.

In said stationary embodiment, the back edges of said walls (12) and(13) contact with the surface of the wall (19), but are relieved at (20)to make room for the adjacent portion (21) of said cover, which cupsover the upper end of said container, all well shown in Figure 4.

It will be noted that the guides (1616) are formed by crimping togetherportions of the container stock so as to form vertical pleats which arethen respectively bent inwardly parallel to the outer surface of theplaten (11) and in spaced relation thereto, thus providing therespective grooves (22-22) for the edges of the paper strip (23) to runin. Well shown in Figures 1 and 4.

It should be stated that the cover (14) is a nice fit over the upper endof said container upon 1 Q which it rests, and it will be noted that thefront lower edge of said cover is curved outwardly at (24). It will befurther noted that the upper edge of said platen is inwardly curved at(25); said respective curves being suitably spaced apart 19 to providethe discharge opening (25) for the strip (23) coincident in width withthe spacing of the grooves (2222).

In the operation of my device the pad P composed of thealternately-folded strip (23) is put into the container C by removal ofthe cover (14). Ihe pad is arranged to pay out from the back by bringingthe free end thereof forward over the top of said pad and thencedownwardly with the edges of the strip engaged in the grooves (22-22).By this arrangement of the feed the strip pays out from the free side,and the strip when drawn upon tends to hold the bulk of the pad in placethus permitting :the strip (23) to unfold its members in orderlysequence The friction caused by crossing over the pad and the curve (25)constitutes sufficient brake to prevent the strip paying out too freely.Now, by replacing said cover the discharge opening (26) is provided. 1

When the paper is written upon it may be drawn down and torn off againstthe sharp edge (27) formed by the lower end of said platen.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a novel articleof great utility that can be supplied at very small cost, :ordistributed gratis when bearing advertising indicia.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

'1. In a memorandum device, a container structure of thin gage materialand having a slotted opening in the front wall thereof for the passageof a writing strip and guide flanges at the forward lengthwise corneredges of the container defining guide grooves the entire length of thecontainer for the opposite side edges of the writing strip.

2. In a memorandum device, a container structure of thin gage materialand having a slotted opening in the front wall thereof for the passageof a writing strip and guide flanges at the forward lengthwise corneredges of the container defining guide grooves the entire length of thecontainer for the opposite side edges of the writing" strip, saidflanges and guide grooves comprising longitudinally crimped edges on theside walls of the container.

3. In a memorandum device, a container having front and end walls, abottom and a cover, the front -wall terminating in spaced relation tothe upper end of the container and the cover havingi-asf-ront dependingflange directed towards the .front wall, the front wall and cover flangebeing spaced from each other and respectively curved in oppositedirections to provide arslotted opening for the passage ofsa writingstrip.

RICHARD T. FORTUNE.

